Signaling device for automobiles



G. DUVAL SIG NAL LNG DEVICE FOR- AUTOMOBILES "Jul 14 1931.

Filed Feb. 16. 1928 Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT orrica GASTON .DUVAL, OF ROUEN. FRANCE, ASSIGNOB TO ETABLISSEMENTS'JEAN SGHWARZE ET H.MAHE, SOCIE'IE A RESPONSABILI'IE LIM ITEE, OF PARIS, FRANCE SIGNALING DEVICE FOR" AUTOMOBILES Application filed February 16, 1928, Serial No. 254,866, and in France February 21, 1927.

My invention relates to signaling devices for indicating the direction in whichan automobile is. going to turn. Said signaling device is of the type in which. the turning sig- 5 nal is given by the display-of a two-color arm pivotally mounted and adapted to point transversely in the direction which the vehicle is about to take.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a signaling device of the character indicated which shall have a minimum number of parts.

To this end the signal arm consists of two segments articulated one upon the other, in

5 a manner to fold up when the arm is in a position of rest and to unfold during p1voting and to remain unfolded during the time that the signal is in action.

A signal arm may thus be employed which is sufficiently large to allow it to be readily seen when it enters into play, but at the same time, occupying but a small space when in a position of rest.

Other objects of the invention will be obviou s to those skilled in the art with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating two embodiments of my invention, when taken in connection with the present specification of which it forms a part.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view ofmy device in a-position of rest;

Fig. 2 is aside view, corresponding to Fi 1' Fig. 3 is a section along the line 33 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4- is a partial view'sirnilar to Fig. 3 illustrating the apparatus in a different position;

Fig. 5 is a partial view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the apparatus in still another position;

gig. 6 is a front View of a modification; an

' signal arm is formed of two parts 3, 3a pivoted together at 4. The general form of said arm is that of an. arrow. At the end opposite to the pivot a, the member 3 of the signal arm carries a grooved pulley 5 moun't ed on a stud 6 carried by plate 1. The said pulley 5 is intended to be operated a driving cord under the control of the person driving the car. 'Betweenthe said pulley and the plate 1 is interposed a fixed cam 7 Whose form and operation will quently described.

The pivot shaft 4 of the two segments of be subsethe signal arm is fixed to the outer. segment 3a. It carries on the side. of segment 3 toward the plate 1, a small disc 8 with two projecting pins 8a. The distance between said pins corresponds to thethickness of a rod 9, capable of sliding longitudinally with respect to segment 8 in supports 9a fixed to ment and theplate .100, a toothed disc 11 adapted when the arm turns on stud 6 to mesh with pins 12 'fixed for that purpose'on the platelet. The two diametrically opposite teeth of discll lyingin the axis ofseg- On the external face of plate 1a is attached a casing13 for a small lamp (not shown) said casing being provided with lateral apertures 18a. The upper front part of the lamp casment 30, project out further than the others.

ingmay be utilized, as shown, for carrying...

i he stop signal. The circuits of the lamps are preferably controlled by the movement of the signal arm.

O pemton When the apparatus is at rest (Figs. 1 to 3), the segment 3 of the signal arm is vertical and thesegment 3a folded back thereupon and hangs in front thereof. The whole is concealed behind the plate it. If by acting on the control cable the arm 3 is caused to swing in the direction of the arrow f for example, one of the large teeth of disc 11 comes in contact shortly with one of the pins 12.

The segment 3, continuing to swing, the segment 3a turns about the pivot t, in the direction of the arrow 7, the other teeth of disc 11 coming successively into engagement with the pins 12.

hen the segment 3 has reached the position'of Fig. 4:, the disc 11 which has made a half turn comes to the end of the pins 12 and the segment 3a is then in line with the segment 3. At this moment the shoe 9?) of the rod 9, which, up to this moment was in contact with a circular part of the periphery of the cam 7, travels up an inclined surface of said cam, which has for an effect to engage the bevelled extremity of rod 9 between the pins 8a, thus locking together the two sections 3, 3a of the signal arm. Shortly after looking takes place the shoe 9?) moves onto another circular part of the periphery of the cam, in such wise that the rod 9 is pushed out and maintained in that position between the pins 8a. The segments 3, 3a then form but a single piece and the signal arm when turned to its extreme position finally stops in the position of Fig. 5 which is its operative position. hen the signal arm is moved back to its position of rest, the same effects take place but in the inverse direction.

If instead of causing the signal armto swing in the direction of the arrow 7 from its position of rest, it is swung in the opposite direction, the development of the signal arm is effected as before but on the other side of the apparatus whose parts are symmetrically disposed.

As the signal arm is unfolded over and over be it on one side or upon the other it is illuminated at night by the slots 13a of lamp 13.

In the embodiment represented in Figs. 6 and 7, the arm or segment 3 is made in the form of a casing 14 rigid with the pulley 5 which is loosely mounted on a fixed pivot shaft 6. On the shaft 6 is fixed a sprocket wheel 15 which is stationary and around which rolls a chain 16 which mesheswith a sprocket wheel 17 of a smaller pitch and diameter than the lower sprocket wheel 15. Said sprocket wheel 17 is fixed on the shaft 4 rigid with the segment or arrow 3a. 1

Obviously by causing the pulley 5 to turn by means of a suitable cord, the casing 14, as a result, is turned in one direction or the other which determines not only the swing- I ing of the said casing 14 but likewise the rolling of the chain in one direction or the other about the fixed sprocket wheel 15, which produces rotation-of sprocket wheel 17 and as a result the development or folding up of the arrow 3a which moves into alignment with the arm 3 (position of Fig. 5 or symmetrical position). i

In this embodiment it is unnecessary to supply any such means as above disclosed by reference numerals 7, 8, 9 etc. for maintaining the arrow in its unfolded position, as the chain assures this maintenance without recourse to any intermediate means.

As previously, when the arrow is folded, it disappears completely in the body of the apparatus, that is, at the rear side of the stop signal as shown in Fig. 3 and the arrow being thus invisible, the" apparatus viewed from the rear appears as shown in Fig. 1.

The lighting of the arrow in the night may be assured ashas already been mentioned by apertures 13a; laterally disposed lighted by lamps not illustrated or by a bulb 18 (Fig.

2) whose lighting circuit includes on each side of the socket of the apparatus a contact 19 1) normally open and which is grounded, that is, placed in contact with the;; socket or other metallic part of the apparatus when the arm or segment 3 has arrived at its extreme position to the right or:left (Fig. 5).

WVhile preferable'forms of my device I do not wish to be limited thereto as various changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention compre-;.

hended within the scope of the, appended claim. In particular the unfolding of the arm might readily take place by means of a series of pinions meshing with a toothed centrally disposed sector fixed to the frame Having thus described my invention what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i v A dlrectlon signaling device for automobiles comprising a casing having an opening.

on each side, a two part folding arm for naling pivotally mounted and normally occupying a folded position within said casing invisible from without, said arm being arranged to turn on its pivot in both direc-;

tions for display through either of said openings, a stationary sprocket. wheel mounted on. said pivot, another sprocket wheel integral with the outer part of the arm and mounted at the point of articulation 5 of both parts, and a continuous chain passing on both sprocket wheels, wherebythe rotation of the arm on its pivot automatically causes the two parts of said arm to unfold and to maintain a positionof alignment when said arm is swung in either direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

GASTON DUVAL.

I have shown what deem to be they, 

